Locking clothes hanger



Jan. 18, 1966 J. B. cAPo 3,229,871

LOCKING CLOTHES HANGER Filed July 8, 1964 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JULIO B. CAPQ semmes & semmes AT TOR/VEYS Jan. 18, 1966 J. B. CAPO 3,

LOCKING CLOTHES HANGER Filed July 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

JULIO B. GAPO Semmes 2 SemmQS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,229,871 LOCIHNG CLOTHES HANGER Julio B. Capo, Banco Credito y Ahorro Ponceno, P.0. Box 4467, San Juan, Puerto Rico Filed July 8, 1964, Ser. No. 382,690 4 Claims. '(Cl. 223-91) This invention concerns clothes hangers, having crossbars over which trousers, skirts or similar flat objects may be draped. More precisely, this invention applies to means for positively holding objects on hanger crossbars.

The art of coat hangers and combination coat and pants hangers is well developed, particularly in describing means for retaining draped, fiat objects on hanger crossbars. Notably, previous hanger crossbar clamping devices have employed springs, which are cumbersome to use and which, if strong enough to be effective, require a great amount of force for disengagement. Other devices have used crossbar pinching elements, which are disfiguring to clothes and which are consequently unacceptable. Known crossbar clamps require specific movements to hold them in an open position.

The present invention has no springs or pinching elements, rater the clamping device employs a minimum of cooperating members, which may be easily operated to engage and disengage the hanger crossbar. Moreover, this invention includes means to hold the clamp in an open position so that garments may be easily draped over the crossbar or removed therefrom.

Most desirable as a basic material for hanger construction is wood. Long use has proved the advantages of its rigidity, strength, lightness and non-discoloring characteristics. This invention takes advantage of those attributes by describing a crossbar clamping device made entirely of wood, excepting the minimum of metallic pins and screws required for strength and durability.

One object of this invention is to provide a hanger crossbar clamping means for a common rigid hanger.

A second object of invention is to provide a crossbar clamping means, using minimum number of elements in general, and particularly, a minimum of metallic members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking means which is easily engageable and disengageable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a locking means that will hold itself in a disengaged position.

Still further as an object of the invention is the providing of hanger crossbar clamp whereby a simple adjustment provides uniform operation of the clamp throughout its entire life.

FIGURE 1 is an overall view of the assembled hanger and crossbar clamping device.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the hanger showing the clamp in its open position.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the closed clamp, part of the hanger frame being cut away to expose the clamp elements.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the elements of the clamp.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the hanger, generally indicated by the numeral 100, comprises frame 110 of which the upper portion is designated as crown 112. Extending upwardly from the crown is a conventional supporting hook, 130. Hanger crossbar 120 connects the ends 114 of yoke 110. Hinge base 210 of clamp 200 is fixed on crown 112.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, a first, upper clamping member 220 depends from hinge base 210 in a pivotable relationship about pin 230. In a similar manner, second, lower clamping member 240 is pinned to and piv- 3,229,871 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 otably depends from said first member 220. Clamping bar 260 is fixed to lower clamping member 240.

Referring to FIGURE 4, hinge base 210 comprises a generally rectangular body, 212, having lugs 214 and 215. Hinge base 210 may be glued to hanger crown 112 or may be attached by inserting two conventional wood screws (not shown) through apertures 218 and screwing them into crown 112 of the hanger. Lugs 214 and 215 are adapted to receive a pin or, preferably, bolt 230 through holes 216 and 217.

First clamping member 220 comprises a curved main body 222, the upper portion of which fits snugly between lugs 214 and 215 of hinge base 210. Hole 226 is aligned with holes 216 and 217 of lugs 214 and 215 to receive shank 232 of bolt 230. Spring washer 234 fits over the threaded portion of the bolt and is secured by wing nut 236. The wing nut is tightened to sufficient tension to retain the assembled clamping elements in a disengaged position when arm 220 is lifted to a horizontal position.

Lower clamping member 240 has groove 244 at its upward limit into which the lower portion of main body 222 of first clamping member 220 is loosely fitted. Holes 228 and 246 are aligned to receive pin 250, which may be upset after insertion to prevent its withdrawal. An extension 224 integrally depends from main body 222 for such a distance that the length between its lower limit and hole 228 is greater than the distance between holes 246 and base 245 of groove 244 in the lower clamping member. Flat face 225 of extension 224 engages side 242 of lower clamp member 240 below groove 244. Thus, relative rotation between the upper and lower clamping members is limited in one direction.

The bottom of the lower clamping member 240 describes a curved surface 248, which receives clamping bar 260. The two elements to be held together by glue, applied to the curved face 248, or by wood screws, preferably of stainless steel to prevent discoloration of garments.

A plane containing the centers of holes 226 and 228 and the plane of face 225 intersect in a small acute angle. Thus, face 225 engages side 242 of lower member 240 after pin 250 has moved in a counter-clockwise direction (see FIG. 3) beyond a plane common to the center of clamping bar 260 and bolt 230. The cumulative distance between holes 226 and 228 and between hole 246 and the bottom of clamping bar 260 equals the distance between bolt 230 and crossbar 120. Thus, when clothing is laid over the crossbar and the clamping device is rotated in a counter-clockwise manner as shown in FIGURE 3, an over-the-center lock is effected.

In operation clamping bar 260 is disengaged from crossbar by lifting upper clamping member 220. First clamping member 220 pivots about hinge base 210 and lifts lower clamping member 240 and clamping bar 260. Compression applied by bolt 230 and wing nut 236 through the spring washer 234 urge lugs 214 and 215 into frictional engagement with upper clamping member 220. The friction holds clamp 200 in its opened position, with clamping bar 260 away from hanger crossbar 120. After trousers or other garments are laid across crossbar 120, upper clamping member 220 is pivoted downwardly about hinge base 210. This motion forces lower clamping bar 240 downwardly and applies pressure on the garment through the clamping bar 260. Continuing the rotation effects an over-the-center lock, which is limited by face 225 of upper 220 clamping member abutting side 242 of lower clamping member 240.

Releasing the garment from the hanger requires a positive pressure in a clockwise direction (FIGURE 2) upon member 220. Friction between hinge lugs 214 and 215 and upper clamping member 220 holds clamp 200 open while the garment is removed.

The invention has been described by way of specific example. In the light of the present disclosure it will be obvious, however, for one skilled in the art to construct other embodiments of the invention, which is specifically defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a combination clothes hanger, having crossbar, frame, and supporting hook; a crossbar clamping means; comprising a base, said base being secured to said frame, said base further comprising two outwardly extending parallel lugs; a first pin rotatably engaging said lugs; a first clamping member pivotably depending from said first pin intermediate .said lugs; a second pin rotatably engaging said first clamping member intermediate its ends; a second clamping member having upper and lower ends; two spaced extensions integrally formed on said upper end, said extensions pivotably engaging said second pin on each side of said upper clamping member; the distance between the said second pin and the lower end of said first clamping member being greater than the distance between said pin and said upper end of said second clamping member; a clamping bar fixed to said lower end of said second clamping member; whereby said upper and lower clamping member may be freely relatively pivoted on one side of a plane common to said crossbar and said first pin and limitedly pivoted ion the opposite side of said plane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first pin comprises a bolt, engaging said first member and rotatably engaging said base, a nut, and a spring washer intermediate said nut and said base.

3. In a clothes hanger, having a frame and crossbar, a crossbar clamping means whereby articles are positively held on said crossbar comprising:

(A) first and second clamping members;

(B) a first pin, pivotably correcting said frame and said first member;

(C) adjustable friction means retaining said first clamping member is pivotal relation to said frame;

(D) a second pin, pivotably connecting said first and second members;

(E) an extension on one of said two members, to limit the pivotal interaction between said first and second members in one direction when said extension is pivoted to the point where it contacts said other member;

(F) and crossbar engaging means fixed to said second 'member.

4. The clothes hanger as described in claim 3 wherein said first pin comprises a bolt, engaging said first member and rotatably. engaging saidirame, a nut, and a spring wash intermediate said nut and said frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,963,207 12 1960 Glowka 22391 FOREIGN PATENTS 499,268 1/1954 Canada.- 499,795 2/1954 Canada.

References Cited by the Applicant I FOREIGN PATENTS 107,505 7/1917 Great Britain.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.

G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A COMBINATION CLOTHES HANGER, HAVING CROSSBAR, FRAME, AND SUPPORTING HOOK; A CROSSBAR CLAMPING MEANS; COMPRISING A BASE, SAID BASE BEING SECURED TO SAID FRAME, SAID BASE FURHTER COMPRISING TWO OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PARALLEL LUGS; A FIRST PIN ROTATABLY ENGAGING SAID LUGS; A FIRST CLAMPING MEMBER PIVOTABLY DEPENDING FROM SAID FIRST PIN INTERMEDIATE SAID LUGS; A SECOND PIN ROTATABLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST CLAMPING MEMBER INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS; A SECOND CLAMPING MEMBER HAVING UNDER AND LOWER ENDS; TWO SPACED EXTENSIONS INTEGRALLY FORMED ON SAID UPPER END, SAID EXTENSIONS PIVOTABLY ENGAGING SAID SECOND PIN ON EACH SIDE OF SAID UPPER CLAMPING MEMBER; THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SAID SECOND PIN AND THE LOWER END OF SAID FIRST CLAMPING MEMEBER BEING GEATER THAN THE DISTANCE 